Carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Provided are carbon nanotubes that allow effective utilization of the insides thereof as-synthesized, without undergoing opening formation treatment. The provided carbon nanotubes have not undergone opening formation treatment and exhibit a convex upward shape in a t-plot obtained from an adsorption isotherm.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Carbon nanotubes that have not undergone opening formation treatment and that exhibit a convex upward shape in a t-plot obtained from an adsorption isotherm, wherein each carbon nanotube has an open end and a closed end. 
     
     
       2. The carbon nanotubes of  claim 1 , wherein
 the t-plot has a bending point in a range of 0.2 nm t 1.5 nm. 
 
     
     
       3. The carbon nanotubes of  claim 2 , wherein
 a total specific surface area S 1  and an internal specific surface area S 2  obtained from the t-plot satisfy 0.05≦S 2 /S 1 ≦0.30. 
 
     
     
       4. The carbon nanotubes of  claim 3 , wherein
 an average external diameter of the carbon nanotubes is from 2 nm to 5 nm. 
 
     
     
       5. The carbon nanotubes of  claim 2 , wherein
 an average external diameter of the carbon nanotubes is from 2 nm to 5 nm. 
 
     
     
       6. The carbon nanotubes of  claim 1 , wherein
 a total specific surface area S 1  and an internal specific surface area S 2  obtained from the t-plot satisfy 0.05≦S 2 /S 1 ≦0.30. 
 
     
     
       7. The carbon nanotubes of  claim 6 , wherein
 an average external diameter of the carbon nanotubes is from 2 nm to 5 nm. 
 
     
     
       8. The carbon nanotubes of  claim 1 , wherein
 an average external diameter of the carbon nanotubes is from 2 nm to 5 nm.